A Lion's Mane jelly and friend.
When describing a lion's mane to my guests, I usually say to look for a jellyfish shaped like a child's drawing of a sun: bright, with ray-like lobes. In South East, they can get quite large, but we typically see individuals at around 10 inches in diameter. This one had a friend along. The jelly has quite a sting which can cause a harsh rash and burning pain if you come in contact with them. Local fishermen call them "red hots" for this reason. However, several fish species can withstand the toxin and live quite comfortably alongside the jelly. These photographs were taken above water from the dock in Elfin Cove. We were quite lucky to see this bright, beautiful little fish swimming, protected by its mobile home.
